Lawrence County commissioners approve emergency landslide repair contract and routine measures, recognize two students headed to national spelling bee

At a March 31, 2026 meeting, the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners approved an emergency landslide repair contract and a slate of routine motions, signed letters of commendation for two local spelling-bee finalists and heard a monthly update from the Soil and Water office.

The board voted to award emergency landslide repair bid PW663LAWCR2104406 to Allen Stone Company for $232,786.60 and approved the related construction agreement. Commissioners also approved multiple routine items by unanimous vote, including floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District; appropriations and transfers under $75,000 submitted by County Administrator Dylan Bentley; a personnel packet that included the hiring of part-time EMT Michaela Schlothaber and the resignation of part-time paramedic Michael Meissner; and a 4(d) child-support contract between LCD, JFS and the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts for $23,601.90 covering Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026.

The board moved to sign a consulting-services agreement with Tiffany Ridgeway and a general services agreement with Stantec pending prosecutor approval, approved the fiscal year 2026 Ohio Airport Improvement Program matching grant for general aviation airports, authorized advertisement of an RFP for the Kitsil Communications Tower Project, and approved enrollment in the 2027 group retrospective rating program. All motions recorded in the transcript were carried with unanimous support from the three commissioners present.

Chair (identified in the transcript by role) read a letter recognizing Joseph Keffer, a sixth-grade student at Chesapeake Middle School, and Kerrigan Kidd, an eighth-grade student at Rock Hill Middle School, for their performances in county and regional spelling bees. "These are the best parts of our jobs, getting to make these kinds of recognitions," the Chair said as the board presented the signed letter of commendation.

Mike Patterson, present and identified in the transcript as Clerk of Courts, noted he had received an original contract related to an earlier agenda item and asked that it be placed on file.

A representative from the Soil and Water office provided a monthly update, citing upcoming tree sales, 18 landowners under federal contract so far this year, ongoing work on the stormwater annual report and a pending state audit, 20 new commercial permits, and 54 floodplain permits. The presenter said Lawrence County has seen about $12,700,000 in activity across 20 applications so far this year. "So we've got a lot of big projects plus the projects that's currently going on from last year," the presenter said.

County Administrator Dylan Bentley thanked elected officials and department heads for participating in a Civvy Scholars round-table event for local students and said the county will place students in offices for practical experience. A community representative reported a successful chili-fundraiser and upcoming prom and graduation events, noting proceeds will be put back into local programming.

Before adjourning to executive session, commissioners moved to meet in closed session to discuss personnel appointments and removals with several named individuals. The motion to convene an executive session was recorded in the transcript.

Votes at a glance • Approve meeting minutes (March 2026, as corrected): passed, Commissioners Finley/Holiday/Copley — yes (3–0). • Floodplain permits (Soil and Water Conservation District): passed, yes (3–0). • Appropriations/transfers under $75,000 (submitted by Dylan Bentley): passed, yes (3–0). • Personnel changes (new hire Michaela Schlothaber; resignation Michael Meissner): passed, yes (3–0). • Consulting services agreement — Tiffany Ridgeway: passed, yes (3–0). • General service agreement — Stantec (pending prosecutor approval): passed, yes (3–0). • FY2026 Ohio Airport Improvement Program matching grant: passed, yes (3–0). • Authorize RFP advertisement — Kitsil Communications Tower Project: passed, yes (3–0). • 2027 group retrospective rating program enrollment: passed, yes (3–0). • Award PW663LAWCR2104406 — Allen Stone Company for emergency landslide repair ($232,786.60): passed, yes (3–0). • 4(d) child-support contract (LCD, JFS, Lawrence County Clerk of Courts) — $23,601.90 (01/01/2026–12/31/2026): passed, yes (3–0). • Letters of commendation for Joseph Keffer and Kerrigan Kidd: passed, yes (3–0).

What’s next: The board moved to convene an executive session to discuss personnel appointments and removals. No final actions were recorded in open session on those personnel matters in the provided transcript.